Type-writer.



'5. c. WALTER.

TYPE WRITER, APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1909.

' Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES E. G. WALTER.

TYPE WRITER APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1909 V 1,056,721. .v Patented Mar.18, 1913.

.5 I 4 BHEBTHAHBETQ.

WITAIESSES w INVENTOR h 09 WuM/w %A:-;

A fl WAT-70871.5;

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

VE I? E. c. WALTER.

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1909.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913' E. 0. WALTER.

TYPE WRITER.

APPLIOATI ON FILE D MAY 3, 1909 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES;

ATTORN a citizen of EDWARD C. WALTER, OF NEVI=YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNC R, TOHARRY AMBIEOSE, OP

QRANGE, -NEW' JERSEY. I

U @lt lhlt /E TYPE-WRITER.

Application filed Play 3, 1909. Serial No. it/3,488.

Letters Patent, .llateratetl To all who/a m (2 1 concern llc it knownthat l, llnwann C. VVA'L'rnn, the United States, residing at New York.in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Type Writers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to typewriters, and, particularly, to that classknown as tiat-. platen typewriters.

The object of the invention is to etiect a relative. leveling adjustmentbetween the platen and the tracks or traclcframe which supports thetraveling printing-mechanism as Occasion may require. either when themachine isbeing assembled in the factory for marketing, or where, inuse, it becomes. necessary in view of unusual thickness of the worksheetor sl'ieets.

Another object is to. provide for a relative adjustment or leveling,between the tracks and platen after regrindii'ig and lapping of theplaten and in order to arrange for the proper relative positioning ofthe writingmechanism relative to the platen or the relative positioningof platen relative to the writing-mechanism.

The invention has other obje(:ts,'all appear in the detailed descriptionstructure.

With these objects in view, the invention resides chiefly in providingmeans operating upon either the platenor the tracks (as the case may be)for effecting an adjustment or as will of the v positioning of thesemembers. relative to each other in order that, for operation of theniachine, the writing-surface and the printing uiechan1sm shall occupythe proper rclat ve planes according to the space necessary or desiredbetween these two elements of a flatplaten typewriter.

The invention resides. further, in means for effecting arelativehorizontal adjustment. of the planes of parts or positioning between theplaten and the track-rails and relative, particularly, to thewriting-mechanism, whereby the latter maynormally occupy its properoperative position with relation to the writing-surface of the platen.

The invention resides, also, in details of crmstruction and arrangementot parts, all as particularized hereinafter. I

In the manufacture of typewriters of the it has been found that, in theabsence of special means or, devices, it'is practically impossible toassemble the platen and the machine-traversed tracks exactly-true andlevcl'relatively; and, as it'is essential to achieve this result, and ina simple manner and with simple and effective mechanismpl have devisedthe invention forming the subject-matter of this case and which,by-pract has been found that such regrinding has increased the distancebetween the Writingsurtace of the platen and the writing-meek anism, sothat, in printing, would not strike true that its arc of movement hasbeen in creased-not to a arge degree but suiticiently, nevertheless, topreclude properly the type-bar alined and positioned impressions of thetype-character on the worksheet. Furthermore, in vthe varied use of themachine, it has been found that the increased thickness of the worksheetor sheet's-especially where i'nanitolding is being effected with a greatnumber of carbon-elements interleafed between the several work-sheetsdecreases the arc of movement or travel of the typebar to an extent thatit reaches its imprinting position before the type-character has becomepositioned to strike accurately and in true alinement. On a limitednumber of sheets, this is not noticeable. The invention is applicable toa large number of sheets. It will be seen, therefore, that the provisionof means for changing'the relative positions of the platen and thetracks and writingmechanism', to meet. any of these exigencies, presentsa valuable adjunct to the machine. tonsequently', my inventioncontemplates, in its broadest aspect, such means, which may operate toadjust the platen relative to the machine-traversed rails or tracks; orto MljllSt such tracks relative to the platen; or

Mar. 3L8, i913.

, because of the fact.

to adjust lfioth the platen and-the tracks; or

to adjust-the supporting surfaces of, the base or bases which sustainsor sustain these class to which the present invention belongs, members;or to change the position of the printing mechanism on its supportingcarriage relative to the writing surface-1n .each and all of theseinstances to achieve broad and dominating aspect of my inven-'tion,various other embodiments may be utilized and be within the spiritof my invention) Figure 1 is a view in plan, showing a tiltable fiatlaten and machine-traversed rails connecte to constitute a frame, and

- .embodying the form of means employed to adjust the platen; Fig. 2 isa fragmentary View, in lan, of a non-tiltable or billingj platen, (t etracks being omitted merely to I 1 avoid any obscuring of the parts),and showingthe platen-adjusting means; Fig. 3 is a view in sideelevation, partly in section, of

the structure illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view, butshowing the platen-adjusting means in connection' with a tiltable platenemployed in connection with booktypewriters,so-called in the art; Fig. 5is a.

fragmentary view, in plan,'of the platen and a tiltable track, and, inthis instance, showing the-adjusting-means applied to the track; Fig. 6is a view in side elevation thereof, partly in section; Fig. 7 is afragmentary view in plan, showing a modified form of platenadjusting-means; Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the structureillustrated in 7 Fig. 9 is a view in front elevation.

In these drawings, and throughout the several views, A designates thebase of the machine; B the platen supported thereon;

G the. tracks or track-frame also supported thereon; D the platen-hinge;and E the adjustin'g-means, generally, the details of which will now bedescribed.

In its'simplest form, the adjusting device comprises an adjusting-memberwhich may, and. usually 1s, an the form of a screw of any appropriatestyle and size and which engages directly with or into the member (theplaten or track) to be adjust-ed, or with or into some partcarriedthereby or connected therewith. It is to be understood that theseadjusting-screws may be disposed at each member, or operating at one ormore porof the corners of the member (Fig. 1) orat any {desiredposition; also, that the ndjust.

ment may be effected otherwise than by the.-

screw, "as by a lever or arm; and, also by means operatingsimultaneously and interdependently at 'thevarious portions of the 1tions thereof independently.

. In .Figs. 2 and 3, a two-stem adjusting screwl is shown as extendingupwardly through the forward end of the platen B 'mits it to be tilted.supports two transverse shafts or rods 2 a part of back-plate A. andconnecting with the platen at Swhich is a shaft upon which the platenfulcrums and \YlllCll therefore per- As shown, the arm 2 and 2".Extending through the arm 2 is an adjusting-screw 6 which is threadedinto the back'plate A This screw 6 has a long screw -threaded upperstem, :1 circumferential flange (the upper face of which is curved totake into a bowl-sl'laped recess in the lower face of said arm 2), and ashort lower screwthreaded portion which engages in screwthreads in theback-plate A, as shown in Fig. 3. Said upper screw-tln-eaded stemcarries a locking-nut and an underlying washer which encircles the stemand its central opening being of diameter larger than the diameter ofsaid stem to permit a certain amount of play during adjustments. Saidwasher is seated in'a bowl-shaped depression in the upper edge of thearm 2. By this arrangementthe screw 2 may be turned and then the nuttightened to effect a locking. This form of screw appears also in theforms of structure illustrated in FigsQ, 3, 6, 7 and 8, and thedescription here will suflicc to make clear what the form pfrear-adjusting means is. It will be understood that the turning of thescrew 6 will cause the arm 2 to be actuated on its pivot 3, and, the armacting, in this instance, as a lever of the second order, causes therear end of the platen with which it connects through the shelf 5, torise or fall, according to the direction in which the screw 6 is turned.The turning of the screw 1 at the front (there being one at each side,as shown in Fig. 1) raises or lowers that end. It is apparent that toeffect a leveling of the platen, only one or more of the screws willhave to be turned, whereas, if a repositioning of the platen 1s"desired, the screws at the various cornerswill have to be turned.

In Fig. 4, where the platen is shown as .tiltable by reason of beinghinged at T) at the rear, the arrangement is preferablr somewhatdifferent: In this instance. the front-adjusting screw 7 does notproject upwardly into the platen, but, on the contrary, has a head 7upon which the platen B normally rests and from which it is free to betilted upward. The screw-stem may be threaded into a locking nut 7 whichis in engagement with the upper surface of the front-plate A to preventthe screw 7" from shifting and into which the screw- -stem penetrates,as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In the rear, the platen has pivoted to it at8 a short arm 9 fulcrumed at 10. An ad justing-screw 11 '(of the kindalready specifically described) extends through the arm 9 and into theback-plate A The turning of the screw 11 aetuates the arm 9 on itsfulcrum to lower the rear end of the platen. To effect a raising of thearm 9, another headed screw 11 extends through the forward portion arm,in advance of its fulcrum 8, and bears against the upper face of thehack-plate, The adjusting of this screw elevates the forward portion ofthe arm 9 and raises the platen,the screw 11,

being unscrewed slightly to permit this. To

adjust screw 11, the screw must be unscrewed. The arrangement is suchthat the platen is free to be tilted upward on its hinge withoutaffecting the adjuqing-device.

In some instances, 1 may desire'to adjust the track C in lieu ofadjusting the platen, in the manner already described; and, to

this end, I provide the constnuction ;illus-.

trated in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein a front ad-' justing-screw 12 (ofconstructionsimilar to, and operating similarly to, that used in theplaten-adjusting device shown. in Fig. 4) is provided to extend into anupstanding portion of the front-plate A and upon the head of which screwthe front portion of the rail C rests. Atthe rear, an arm 13. isfulcrumed on a shaft 14 supported in an upstanding portion of theback-plate A and pivoted on the shaft 15 to the track-hinge A As shownin Fig. 5, the platen is mounted .on the shaft 14 and fulcrums thereonfor a tilting movement. A screw 16 extends vertically through the arm 13'and 'is threaded into the plate A It will be understood that theturning of the screw 16 will actuate the arm 13 on its fulcrum 14 toelevate or lower the opposite end of the arm and, in consequence, therear portion of the track is elevated or lowered. The arrangement of theparts is such that the adjusting-device is not disturbed when the rail Cis tilted. I

l'n some instances,it is not always possible to have the adjusting-screwoperate directly' on the platen at the front. ilherefore, I

.have devised a modification, as illustrated in Figs. 7 9. wherein theplaten is provided in this instance with a projection 17. The frontplate A is provided with an upright portion 1? to which is pivoted anadjustable plate l7 pivoted at l? and slotted at 19 to receive theplate-locking screw 19, and is provided with a boss or projection 18through which extends an adjustingscrew 19 that works on the upper faceof the front-plateA The turning of the screw 19 elevates the forward.end of the platen. After the plate 1'? is adjusted (to adjust theplaten) the locking screw 19 is tightened to lock the platen in itsadjusted position. To adjust the'rear end thereof, I provide at theIrearan arm 20 fulcrumed on shaft 21 and pivoted at 22 to the platen B. Thearm 20 is disposed between the two upstanding cheeks 23, 23, forming atrunnion. An adjusting-screw 24 extends: through the arm 20 and isthreaded into the back-plate A. so that when said screw is turned, itactuates said arm 20 and raises or lowers the rear end of the platen,the bore of the hole in the cheeks 28 being larger than the diameter ofthe aide 22 (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. ,7, and in full lines inFig. 8) to-permit a certain amount of play, that is, of the axle in saidbore in the, cheeks, such play being as great as the limit ofadjustment. .The plate a. pivoted at 41?, has a hook-end a .desig11ed'tengage with a stud a carried by block 17. This serves as a platen-lock.It will now be seen that I have herein presented a construction wherebythe platen or the tracks may be adjusted at the front or at the rear, orbothends; that, by such construction, the setting .up or leveling of theplaten or tracks may readily be accom plished whenever this isnecessary; thatv such adjustment of the platen or tracks can be effectedwithout.- disturbing the adjust-ment-of' any of the other partsof themachine, such as the escapement-mechanisms, carriage-steady-rolls, etc.:and that where itis necessary to change the relative position betweenthe writing-mechanism and the writing-surface, this can be accomplishedwith facility and certainty, so that. it becomes a matter of no momenthow thick may be the work-sheets, etc, sustained by the platen.

Having thus described my invention,

what ll claim and desire to secure by Letirintingi -ineclianismtraveling thereover, supporting-tracks which said printingmechanismtraverses and occupying a horizontal plane different. from that occupiedby said sheet-support, a basc'upon which said sheet-support and tracksare independv ently supported, and means n'lou'nted onsaid ;-base andoperating ina vertical direction ,on one ofsaidsupporting-elementsindeof with relation to the specified independent .the other of the-ried by said base .eleincnts vertically to pende'ntly of the otherofsaid supportingelements to efi'ect a change of position therethesupporting-element unafi'ected by said'means.

.3. In a typewriter a flat-platen member, rail-members occupy ng aosition entirely free from the edges said platen-member, a base forsupporting said rail-members in platen-member, andvertically-operatingmeans carried by said base and coacting with one of said membersindependently of the other of said members fpr changing the normalposition of said member to a different relative position.

4. In a typewriter including as elements a flat-platen and track-railsoccupying a horizontal position entirely free from the edges ofsaidplaten, a base upon which said platen and track-rails are independentlysupported, and means carried by said base and operating upon-one of saidspecified elements" independently of the other forchanging'itshorizontal plane relatively to elements.

In a typewriter including as-elemcnts a fiat-platenand tracks occupyinga position independent of the edges of said platen, a base upon whichsaid platen "and tracks are independently supported, and means carfor.adjusting one ofsaid change the horizontal relations between saidelements in the event that one of said elcmentsisout of proper operativerelation to the other. i

6. In a typewriter including as elements. a flat-platen and tracksarranged independent of the edges thereof,-a base upon which said platenand tracks are independently supported, and manually-operated meanscarried by the base for vertically adjusting one of said elementsat oneor a plurality of points relatively to' the other.

' independently supported,

7, In -a flat-platen typewriter including ias' elements a tilt'ableplaten and tracks ar- -'ra-nged independent of the edges thereof, a baseupon which said platen and tracks are and adjusting means carried bysaid base independently of one of said elements and operating 'on theother of said elements to ad ust it vertically relatively to said otherelement without disturbing the tilting connection of said platen. 8.-Inatypewriter including as elements a flat-platen and tiltable tracksarranged independent of the side edges thereof, a-base upon which saidplaten and tracks are inrelation to said and tracks movable therewithdependently supported, and adjusting means cerried by said base and ocrating u on one of said elements only to c ect a vertlcal. adjustmentthereof without disturbing the tilting connection of said tracks.

9. In a flat-platen typewriter including as elements a fiat-platen andtracks disposed in a plane independent of theside edges of said platen,a base upon which said platen are independently supported, and adjustingmeans engaging said base and operable at a plurality of points on one ofsaid elements to effect a change of its posi tion at one or more pointswith relation to.

the other of said elements.

10. In a typewriter, a'work-sheet support, a printing-mechanism supportarranged in j'LXiZIPOSll'lOH to said first-mentioned suport, means forsustaining said supportingelements independently of each other, meansfor adjusting one of said elements toward and away from said sustainingmeans whereby to position the element in a horizontal plane relativelydifferent from that.-

of said other element, and a device for lock- .ing'said adjusting meansto hold the adjusted element in position.

11. In a typewriter inclu'fling as elements a. flat-platen, andtrack-rails occupying a horizontal position entirely free from the edgesthereof. a 'base upon which said platen and track-rails areindependently supported, means carried by said base and. operating uponone of the said specified elements in-' dependently of the other forchanging its 'horizonal plane relatively to said other element, and alocking-device connecting Wltll 'EDWA-RD o. WALTER. Vllitnesses W. L.BILLMYER, CHAS. P. BATT.

